Celebrities don't mind waiting

MORE DOUGH? Cynthia Ford leans past George Hilliard while serving rolls at a dinner for the Christ Child Society.

Voigt / Blade

Celebrity Wait nights have become the “in” way to raise funds. They're great because there is little overhead and minimal preparation. Best of all, everyone has fun. Sunset Celebrity wait night is slated for May 2 at Stone Oak Country Club.

TOLEDO Public Schools “The Class of the Classes” came together March 31 to serve guests for the third annual Celebrity Wait Night “Bid-Buy-Tip” for the TPS foundation.

HOOPING IT UP: Chuck Krueger, NBA star Dennis Hopson, and Chip Carstensen, from left, help out at the 'The Class of the Classes' event.

The dinner, at Navy Bistro, was $50 per person, plus tips, followed by a live auction that included wait staff aprons hand-painted by Libbey Skill Center students. Chairmen were Laneta Goings and Bill Harris, assisted by co-chairmen Chuck Krueger and Chip Carstensen and a host of volunteers. Among the servers were basketball champ Dennis Hopson, Judge Charles Wittenberg, former basketball star Chet Trail, and TPS foundation board members Brenda Facey and Sharon Speyer. Also, Samantha Adams, Jan McBride, Sam Szor, and Phil Roth, and others. The event netted nearly $13,000, which will be used for TPS Foundation programs.

OTTAWA HILLS Mothers Support Group sponsored “The Village March Madness Fundraiser” on March 30 at the Beirut Restaurant.

SPLASH! Susan Stein, left, goaded by Cindy Dana, at right, squirts Chuck Dana and Bruce Rumpf (ducking) at the Ottawa Hills dinner.

The biennial vent was a success, with a net of more than $31,000, according to chairmen Laura Baird and Chris Paterwich. Funds will help purchase improvements for the high school and elementary schools' libraries, and a foreign language multi-media cart for the elementary school.

LIAL Elementary School's Spring Fling Celebrity Wait to benefit the school was March 22 at Nazarath Hall amid palm trees, pineapples, and a tiki hut. Guests in flower print shirts, grass skirts, and other tropical wear feasted for $35 per person plus tips. A silent auction included a go cart bought by Kevin and Cindi Lonseth. Volunteer wait staff served the meal, then joined the crowd for dancing to Soundwaves. Chairman Kathy Delp, assisted by co-chairman Lisa Seel, reports a net of nearly $50,000. Proceeds will go to the school, and to improve the technology classroom. Among the wait staff were Bernadette Noe, Jackie and Scott Flom, Carol and Dennis Durnwald, Dana Zeller, Don and Lisa Stupica, Tim Witt, and principal Sister Patricia McClain.

ST. URSULA Academy's sixth annual Celebrity Wait Night was March 17 at Real Seafood Co., and they cashed in on the Irish holiday with “A Sham-rockin' Good Time!” A jiggs dinner was not served but a Bailey's Irish cheesecake did the job.

IRISH SMILES: From left, Erin Kander, Katie Skelton, Emily Werner, Maggie Herrick, and Caroline Stoy pause for a pose at St. Ursula's 'Sham-rockin' Good Time.'

Costume-clad SUA senior Rachel Sanford performed Irish step dancing and University of Toledo professor Bud Koontz, in traditional kilt regalia, played his bagpipes. The raffle drew interest, too, including the hand-painted glasses by SUA students and a chair painted by SUA teacher Laurie Wenzinger. Among the 36 wannabe waiters and waitresses were Janine and Greg Rosenthal, Kay Rasmus and her daughter, Allison, and school president Jane Charette's husband, Ev, who came dressed as a leprechaun. Guests paid their tab, then made extra generous tips for the cause. The real wait staff donated their time and Real Seafood made a contribution, too, which helped raise the final net to $24,000; proceeds will benefit the school. Chairmen were Nancy and Jeff Traudt and Becky and Pat Skelton.

THE THIRD annual Celebrity Wait Knight for St. Francis de Sales High School was March 9 at Mancy's Steak House. Guests - all 500 - ordered dinner from a select menu, then tipped heavily for wait service by teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders.

A DELICATE BALANCE: Celebrity waiter Dick Kaverman carries a tray of salads through the kitchen of Real Seafood as he heads for patrons' tables at a fund-raiser for the Christ Child Society.

Among the novice waiters were football champ Rodney Gamby and anchorman Jeff Smith, who was one of several alumnae including Jim McGowan, Jr., Jim Bingle, and Tom Lindsley. Tom Manahan, Paul Berlacher, and Tom McHugh, who brought wine for a raffle, waited tables, too. Dinner done, dessert was served as SF student Dan Dery played piano. Other SF students provided valet service. Chairmen Sue Kenney and Chris Holliday, members of the Chappuis Society (mothers' club), reported a net of more than $20,000 for scholarships.

CHRIST Child Society Celebrity Wait Night is so popular that 60 were on the waiting list to dine. The event was at Real Seafood and Zia's Feb. 3 for 600 diners. Michael Gibbons, restaurant manager, was honored for his generosity. The reason for success? “A happy guest is a generous one” was the slogan for both celebrity wait staff and professional waiters who donated their time. Diners sipped and supped as they razzed their wait staff, but in the end they came through with handsome tips and net nearly $50,000, which will go to the community through the programs for at-risk children that CCS serves.

Chip Gossman, George Darah, Bill Darah, and friends, had a table of their own. Diners also included Rick and Mary Sabin, Kitty and Jim Regan, Margaret and Skip Hilfinger, Dan and Judy Kasper, Father Ron Olszewski and his brother Jim, Dave and Judy Walrod, and Chrys Peterson sporting new specs.

MORE DOUGH? Cynthia Ford leans past George Hilliard while serving rolls at a dinner for the Christ Child Society.

As for celebrity wait staff, they might want to keep their day jobs. Dan DiSalle gave better service to the women. Roger Berkowitz shuffled between three tables in an Italian logo apron he wore on his backside. Bob Savage entertained guests with stories. Allison Steele sang cabaret tunes at Jan Paszczykowski's table. Tim Alter gave slow service. Cynthia Ford joked that she was wearing “I'm-not-really-a-waitress” red fingernail polish. Also among the 32 servers were Lillian Walsh, Tim Alter, Jay Black, Bill Buckley, Dan Johnson, Dee Talmage, Jenny Murtagh, and Jim Telb.

Chairmen were Pat Kuhr and Jane Nachtrab.